Fancy, easy, fizzy, citrusy, aromatic, fresh, and made with only five ingredients, this Orange Mocktail is the perfect refreshing drink to add to your next holiday party or any special occasion. (Remember our simple herb syrup!)
The flavor of this orange juice-based mocktail is the best! This virgin drink recipe is an easy way to transform a simple meal into a fun and spectacular meal. Serve this stunning and simple non-alcoholic drink to kids and adults alike.
I hope you enjoy this orange mocktail as much as I enjoyed creating it.
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I love developing non-alcoholic drink recipes during festivals, holidays, and parties to make special occasions feel extra special.
Around the holidays, with fun parties, dinners, and events (like New Year’s Eve or Christmas Eve), it’s always nice to have an alcohol-free drink option.
Drinks are the heart of any party.
Over the years, I have shared many virgin drink recipes on the blog.
And again, I am here with one more drink recipe – An orange mocktail.
This drink is made with fresh orange juice, warming herbs like rosemary, thyme, and sage, simple syrup, sparkling water, and garnished with Orange slices, pomegranate, and more fresh herbs.
You’ll love the flavor of herbs and orange juice from your first sip.
With a bright orange color, refreshing flavors from citrus and herbs, and just the right amount of bubbles, it feels like a celebration! It is the perfect non-alcoholic alternative to a cocktail.
Why should you make this drink?
- This mocktail is made with simple and minimal ingredients
- All the ingredients are easy to buy
- It looks fancy and festive
- You can make this mocktail ahead of time.
- Perfect for a crowd
- This mocktail is alcohol-free, so everyone enjoys it – kids and adults
- This drink makes any ordinary meal extra special.
Ingredients required
- Orange juice: I prefer to use homemade orange juice. Nothing beats the taste. It’s also the best way to preserve more vitamin C and nutrients. Store-bought freshly squeezed is also a great option. Select a pulp-free variety. Make sure to use no-sugar-added orange juice.
- Our Herb Simple Syrup: Made with just water, sugar, fresh rosemary, thyme, and sage, it’s easy to make, and this infused simple syrup adds a gorgeous layer of flavor to every sip of this orange mocktail.
- Garnishes: I LOVE making a mocktail look pretty. So I used orange slices, some more herbs, and pomegranate. It looks festive.
- Sparkling water: Top the orange mocktail with sparkling water, lemon-lime soda, or plain soda. I often go for plain sparkling water to allow the orange juice flavor to shine through, but you can easily add a flavored option if you prefer! You can also use ginger ale.
Step-by-step process
Simple syrup
- In a pot, take sugar, water, and herbs.
- Switch on the stove and let everything come to a boil. It will take about 5 to 6 minutes. Then, switch off the flame and let the simple syrup cool down.
- Note – Don’t strain the simple syrup. We will directly add it to the orange juice for the best flavors.
Make the drink
- Take orange juice, herb-infused simple syrup, and pomegranate arils in a punch bowl, pitcher, or any beverage dispenser. Mix everything very well.
- Note – you can make this mixture one day in advance and keep it in the fridge for the best flavors.
- Add ice cubes, orange slices, sparkling water (or soda), rosemary, and thyme when serving.
- Take it into serving glasses and enjoy!!
Tips, notes, and quick FAQs
- To keep the bubbles nice and fresh, add the sparkling water at the last minute and give a quick stir.
- A punch bowl, a jug, or a drinks dispenser works fine to make this recipe.
- You can reduce or increase the simple syrup quantity. Use according to the tartness of orange juice.
- You can use only rosemary or thyme instead of all herbs.
- If rosemary, thyme, and sage are unavailable where you live, substitute them with fresh mint leaves.
- Don’t use dried herbs. Use ONLY fresh ones.
- Instead of buying individual herb packages, buy a package called poultry herb blend. It is readily available in grocery stores.
- You can add lime juice for extra citrusy flavors.
- Pomegranate arils can be substituted with fresh cranberries.
You can substitute it with maple syrup, agave, and honey.
Infused simple syrup, like this simple herb syrup, will stay fresh for about one month in the refrigerator.
Yes! Freeze it in a freezer-safe container or ice cube tray and transfer the cubes to an airtight bag. It’ll stay fresh for 2-3 months in the freezer.
Yes, you can. Mix up the orange juice, pomegranate, and herb simple syrup one day in advance. Still, I recommend waiting to add the garnishes (herbs and orange slices) and sparkling water closer to when you plan to serve them so the sparkling water stays flat and the flavoring doesn’t overpower the drink.
More no-alcohol drink recipes
- Smoky Kala jamun Mojito
- Blood orange cranberry jalapeno mojito
- Non-alcoholic Sangria
- Non-alcoholic Christmas Punch
- White Christmas punch
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Orange Mocktail
Ingredients
Simple syrup
- ¾ cup sugar
- 5 strings of rosemary
- 6 strings of thyme
- 6 to 7 sage leaves
- 1 cup water
Other ingredients
- 1.53 liter orange juice
- 1 cup pomegranate arils
- 1 orange cut into slices
- 1 liter Sparkling water or plain soda
- More rosemary and thyme for garnishing
Instructions
Simple syrup
- In a pot, take sugar, water, and herbs.
- Switch on the stove and let everything come to a boil. It will take about 5 to 6 minutes. Then, switch off the flame and let the simple syrup cool down.
- Note – Don’t strain the simple syrup. We will directly add it to the orange juice for the best flavors.
Make the drink
- Take orange juice, herb-infused simple syrup, and pomegranate arils in a punch bowl, pitcher, or any beverage dispenser. Mix everything very well.
- Note – you can make this mixture one day in advance and keep it in the fridge for the best flavors.
- Add ice cubes, orange slices, sparkling water (or soda), rosemary, and thyme when serving.
- Take it into serving glasses and enjoy!!
Video
Notes
- To keep the bubbles nice and fresh, add the sparkling water at the last minute and give a quick stir.
- A punch bowl, a jug, or a drinks dispenser works fine to make this recipe.
- You can reduce or increase the simple syrup quantity. Use according to the tartness of orange juice.
- You can use only rosemary or thyme instead of all herbs.
- If rosemary, thyme, and sage are unavailable where you live, substitute them with fresh mint leaves.
- Don’t use dried herbs. Use ONLY fresh ones.
- Instead of buying individual herb packages, buy a package called poultry herb blend. It is readily available in grocery stores.
- You can add lime juice for extra citrusy flavors.
- Pomegranate arils can be substituted with fresh cranberries.
Nutrition
Warm regards,
Dhwani.
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